Educating Norfolk: Podcast - academy chain boss and secondary school leader discuss where we are and where we are going

After a year which saw repeated blows to the reputation of education in Norfolk, the leader of a local academy chain and a secondary school leader have recorded a podcast discussing how we got here and what comes next.

Academies, aspiration and accountability were on the agenda when Dick Palmer, chief executive officer of the Transforming Education in Norfolk (TEN) Group, and Rob Anthony, associate headteacher of the Hewett School in Norwich, sat down with education correspondent Martin George and digital editor David Powles at Archant’s head office.

For Mr Palmer, a former principal of City College, the past year had delivered a shock to the county’s education system, but he was optimistic that work now under way would improve results.

For Mr Anthony, who is also chairman of a co-operative trust of schools in Norwich, a constant stream of national stories attacking schools had led to exaggerated pessimism about the true situation in the county.

The pair disagreed about the role of academies in improving education, but both spoke about the importance of schools working in collaboration – a key part of Norfolk County Council’s strategy to drive up standards.

What do you think of Mr Palmer and Mr Anthony’s views? Leave a comment below.

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14 comments

....."co-operative is definitely the way to go."......idealistic nonsense. This is a last minute strategy devised by the unions to offer an alternative to academies. Why doesn't the unions run their own schools if they think they know whats best.

Frodo - you are very probably right. 'Collaboration' is like having a coalition government - almost nothing positive gets done because it comes down to manoeuvring, posturing, wishy-washy compromise, dumbing down .. ..

These people aren't Headteachers, they're CEOs. Education is heading down the privatised route because Government is setting Ofsted targets so high that schools fail as a matter of course and are then thrown into the Academy shark tank to be snapped up by whoever can talk fastest into the ear of Lord Nash.

Transforming Education in Norfolk ... makes for a nice acronym .. but do we need 'Transformation' - if anyone can define that.. Get away from the politics of it all .. unions etc .. we need BETTER for children in Norfolk.

Having listened to this podcast amazed that Dick Palmer (only ever ran an RI fe College) is given so much air time and media coverage......just spouts on about academies and collaboration but doesn't he realise that the two are diametrically opposed and in competition for bums on seats....thank goodness he is leading an academy trust and not a proper school.

....."rather than money going to the children in the classroom."....I have heard rumours that academies will not even pay their teachers, but expect them to get their income from hiring out their smallest pupils to local chimney sweeps. If I hear anymore I will let you know.

It would be much easier for schools to collaborate with each other if Norfolk County Council allowed them to do so. When Cavell attempted to formalise their collaboration with other schools in the local cluster, the governors were sacked for pursuing a course of action that didn't contain the magic word "academy".

It would be much easier for schools to collaborate with each other if Norfolk County Council allowed them to do so. When Cavell attempted to formalise their collaboration with other schools in the local cluster, the governors were sacked for pursuing a course of action that didn't contain the magic word "academy".

Given than Mr Anthony has clearly has a difference on the student he has been responsible for, and Mr Palmer has run a mediocre college and has no experience of transforming education in Norfolk despite naming his latest money spinner thus, I think I will side with Mr Anthony on this one.

Dick Palmer never ran anything better than a Satisfactory FE college, now termed RI so how can he be qualified to be an Academy CEO? Gove and Nash are so desperate to force thro academies that they'll use anybody offering......god help our children.

There wouldn't be such a need for government to set Ofsted targets high if the Leaders of schools set high enough standards and expectations themselves as a matter of course. There would be no need for Ofsted.

What a load of collaborations. Let schools fight it out for pupils, just as it should be in a free market. What next, parents collaborating so they take turns in sending their children to the best schools?